Driver shortage tops ATRI’s list of critical trucking issues

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) said driver shortage remained atop the list of the top 10 critical issues facing the North American trucking industry.

ATRI’s Top Industry Issues report is compiled from the responses of more than 1,500 motor carriers and commercial drivers. Driver shortage, a top-three issue in 12 of the 14 years ATRI has conducted the survey, was ranked No. 1 for the second straight year.

Ranking second was the hours-of-service (HOS) rules, driven by the industry’s call for increased flexibility in the rules, including sleeper berth provision. Driver retention ranked No. 3, up two spots from a year ago.

Industry concerns over the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate fell from second to No. 4 this year, with the lack of available truck parking ranked No. 5.